Compare towns
Plymouth vs Portsmouth vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Plymouth | Portsmouth | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,601 |
22,545Highest |
3,640Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4Lowest 37% below U.S. |
42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 12%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,400±$22kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,288Lowest 102% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Portsmouth and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #47 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Portsmouth School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.